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    They waited for the rest of the passengers to board. Petros did his best to be calm, letting his eyes wander around the spacious cabin. For the umpteenth time he checked his seat belt. He never had a problem when he himself controlled dangerous situations, but strapped in a seat at thirty-five thousand feet and his life in the hands of others, always unnerved him.
    The Boeing seven-four-seven lumbered towards the main runway. He wished his own nerves would settle. As the aircraft picked up speed his hands gripped the armrests tighter and tighter. The take-off proved routine and he breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed and dozed, dreaming of Maria and wondering who his daughter took after. He awoke as the plane lurched and dipped. Rain pounded the windows while lightning illuminated the sky. The plane pitched and his body strained against the seat belt. Bear remained sound asleep.
    Must be over Europe now , thought Petros.
    One of the cabin crew, a blonde with large blue eyes, moved towards him.
    “A touch of rock and roll tonight. The captain tells us that this will last for about the next twenty to thirty minutes and it’s not much better over London. When it calms down, if you want anything just ask?”
    The aircraft began to rock violently, the rain pasting the fuselage. Through the window, Petros could see black storm-filled clouds.
    “When you can, a cup of coffee and a sandwich would be good.”
    “Would you prefer roast beef with horseradish or smoked salmon?”
    “Salmon, please.”
    Bear became instantly awake. “I’ll have a double-decker roast beef, Miss.” He rubbed his eyes. “No point in good food going to waste.”
    She smiled and clung to the back of a seat.
    “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    “The world’s falling apart and you snore like a pig, but the mere whisper of food and you’re wide awake.”
    “PK, I need sustenance on a regular basis. You should know that by now.”
    “It’s the middle of the night.”
    “What’s that got to do with it? And I’ll eat my breakfast.”
    The seat belt signs flashed constantly.
    “Sorry to disturb your sleep, ladies and gentlemen, although I think that last bump will have woken most of you up. This is Captain Giles Linton, your pilot. As you know, it’s a little bit bouncy outside. The Met Office has informed us that this weather front extends for quite some distance. I intend to make a slight alteration to our course and avoid the worst of it. We might be a touch adrift with our ETA for landing but I’m sure you would all prefer a smoother flight. I would ask you keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you.”
    After a period of buffeting, the aircraft returned to level flight and the blonde came back with sandwiches for both men.
    “Anything else I can get you?”
    “No thank you, but my friend might want a couple more of those. I’d get them ready now.” Petros winked at her.
    The woman, somewhere in her thirties, smiled and returned to the galley.
    They were still half-asleep when the aircraft landed. After waiting in the queue at Passport Control, they collected their bags and headed outside. Unrelenting, the rain fell in torrents, filling the gutters and causing everyone to rush from one area of cover to another. Petros glanced left and right before he noticed the huge multi-coloured umbrella moving towards them. It tilted slightly and Jack Dunn, his stepfather, waved.
    “Come on, you two, my car’s this way,” said Jack.
    Once in the confines of the multi-storey car park Jack stopped.
    “Congratulation, son, you have a beautiful daughter. I suppose you want to go straight to the clinic?”
    “Silly question, Jack.”
    Jack smiled. “The traffic around Harley Street at this time of the morning will be bloody murder.” His dark blue Mercedes glistened in the dull light.
    “I expected the van, Jack, not the royal treatment.”
    Jack’s right hand clipped Petros on the back of the head. “Do you think your mum would let me